Wyong District Garden Competition winners announced

The 2018 Wyong District Garden Competition winners have been announced. Taking out the top honour of Grand Champion was Mardi local, Kevin Styles, followed by Gorokan’s, Fay Kuilder, as Reserve Champion.

The 2018 competition was the 45th event showcasing the best and brightest of the former Wyong Shire’s green thumbs, and Competition Committee President, Errol Grace, said the calibre of this year’s entries was outstanding. “The Wyong District Garden Competition Committee, and the judge, were very pleased with the quality of the entries in this year’s competition, despite the drought and the need to conserve water,” Grace said. “The entries were from all over the district, and included gardens of all sizes, from balconies and courtyards, to medium ones and those over 1,000sqm,” he added.

Grace said the Committee was also heartened to see the diversity of the gardens and the number of gardeners entering the competition growing. “It was gratifying to see local schools and commercial properties entering as well as past entrants, and quite a number of new gardens were on display. “Because of the diversity of the categories, entrants can showcase potted plants, exotic and native plants, as well as annuals, perennials and both tropical and drier gardens,” Grace said. “Culinary gardens are a popular category and native regeneration is becoming more popular, as people and communities see the value in growing their own produce and in ensuring our indigenous plants are not lost.

“We hope to encourage more entries next year in these categories,” he said. Grace congratulated all winners on behalf of the Committee and hopes to see them all enter the 2019 competition. “We would like to encourage gardeners of all ages to start thinking about entering the 2019 Wyong District Garden Competition and to look out for brochures in our libraries and local nurseries in May. “The Committee would not be able to undertake the organisation of the competition without the support and encouragement of Central Coast Council, and we look forward to a very successful 2019 Wyong District Garden Competition. “We also extend our thanks to our generous major sponsor for 2018, Wyee Nursery,” Grace said.